Once we got past the first semester this year, we had a few busy periods with various family members. Irving turned 13, and wanted to spend his birthday with Willow, so we headed down to the SW to spend the day with her.
Earlier in the second term we did a bunch of explorative chemistry in our kitchen, whilst reading Oliver Sacks, Uncle Tungsten. Irving really is very interested in Chemistry, so we had a lot of fun experimenting. We did quite a bit with acids and bases, and experimenting with lye and hydrochloric acid as well as looking at different foods and where they fit on the PH spectrum.
We did some work on the sewing machine and Irving measured out the pattern for an apron, and arranged the stripes to create a very dynamic looking apron.
We also worked on covering some furniture, and repairing an old stool.
We also took a couple of weeks to head to Adelaide and spend some time with family over there. Irving knows our extended family less well than the rest of our children, so it was nice for him and I to be able to go and spend some time with them. We'd already had his Granny and Aunt and Uncle visit us this year, so we enjoyed being able to have a closer, as in time, catch up. We also did a lot of getting about and seeing friends, as well as a bit of educational stuff. We spent a lovely morning at the SA Art Gallery seeing the Matisse to Monet exhibition. Irving really enjoyed it, and we had a very relaxing morning there, before we had a short stroll around town and the Central markets, and off to visit our friends, at Steven Ter Horst's Chocolate shop.
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| SA Art Gallery |
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| One of Irving's favourite paintings |
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| Another of his favourites |
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| A Matisse cut out |
We also spent quite a bit of time walking along Glenelg foreshore, as we were staying on Broadway. There were quite a few trips to the Organic Shop there, which is a little different than it used to be, less shop and more cafe, so we had a couple of breakfast visits there. We also had a lovely walk from Glenelg to Brighton beach, and a bit of a wander through the shops in Brighton.
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| Brighton Beach |
We've made a bunch of marmalade this year- we got some oranges from one of Gabriel's friends, and lemons from a friend's market stall, at City Farm, and finally we also got some limes from one of our homeschool friends. We've made marmalade from them all bar the limes, which we need to do in the next week.
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| Served with icecream |
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| Orange marmalade finished |
We finished our history for the year too, during this time. We have covered the era of revolutions, as well as the industrial revolution. Irving has been very interested in France/ French culture and we've been gradually making our way through Michel Thomas' French program- we are at advanced level now. Plus watching some French programmes alongside to help with comprehension. At the moment he is reading Baroness Orczy's "The Scarlet Pimpernel".
It has been quite a full year, and in some ways quieter, as many of our activities have come to an end. Music finished unexpectedly, we had been considering finishing at the end of the year but instead we finished this term. It's been pleasant to adjust to a rhythm that suits Irving and I, although we have somewhat adjusted our routine since the beginning of the year, we are continuing to choose a more relaxed pace.
